Luggage handle



June 6, 1961 S FlNKELSTElN 2,987,149

LUGGAGE HANDLE Filed Jan. 26, 1959 Ff'g-f *f3 52 INVENTOR. SAB FINKELSTEIN MKM ATTORNEY 2,987,149 LUGGAGE HANDLE t Sah Finkelstein, Glenside, Pa., assignor lto Philadelphia Handle Company, Inc., Camden, NJ., va-corporation of New Jersey I Filed'lan. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 788,977 6 Claims; (Cl. 190-57) This invention relatesv to handles for luggage such as traveling bags, suit cases, brief cases and the like of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,732,047( Such a handle is generally U-shaped and includes legs adapted for pivotal connection to suitable luggage supports and a web or hand grip portion. i Y

The primary object ofthe invention is to provide a handle of the character described in which the web portion is provided with a flexibly resilient member along its length on both sides thereof and beneath a covering material so that a softer and more comfortable hand grip is provided yet the appearance of the handle is'improved.

A further object` of the invention is to provide a U-shaped luggage handle with a flexibly resilient member and means retaining said resilient member on the hand grip portion of the handle which restrains relativemovement between the resilient'member and the handgrip portion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a generally U-shaped luggage handle comprised of a ring-like shell folded to provide cooperating abutting halves, a covering over said shell and foam rubber members mounted on and along the length of the hand grip portions beneath the covering, and means retaining said halves together, said rubber members being so mounted and shaped as to provide a comfortable and smoothly contoured handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a substantially rectangular ring-like shell for a luggage handle having webs or hand grip portions and legs with reduced medial portions, said shell being folded along a horizontal axis passing through the reduced medial portions whereby said folded portions can pivotally engage luggage handle supports, and a grooved strip engaging the outer edges of said shell halves to lock them together, said reduced medial portions having longitudinal ribs strengthening said portions and improving the locking action of said grooved strip.

Yet another object is to provide a handle of the character described which is structurally sound and comfortable to grip yet attractive and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the handle;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a plan View of the shell or blank itself;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the llexibly resilient member per se;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the trim or locking strip per se; and

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of a modied form of the invention.

Specific reference is now made to the drawings wherein l similar reference characters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

The handle is generally indicated at 10 and is substantially U-shaped, the same comprising a ring-like shell or blank 12 folded upon itself, a exibly resilient member 14, a locking strip 16, and a covering 18.

The shell is preferably a substantially rectangular metallic ring-like stamping of concave-convex cross- 2,987,149 Patented June 6, 1961 ICC section. It therefore comprises webs 20 and 22 interconnecting leg portions 24 and 26 which are medially reduced as at 28. The corners are desirably rounded and the shell includes outer edges 30 and inner edges 32. Longitudinal ribs 33 in the form of outwardly extending indentations are provided in the medially reduced portions 28 to strengthen them.

Y Along substantially its entire length each web is inwardly indented, that is from the outer face toward the inner face, to form a recess 34. The shape of the recess is such that it includes a longitudinal shoulder 36 spaced from the outer edge 30 of the web and converging end shoulders 38, the lower longitudinal edge of the recess being substantially in the same plane as the shell 12. Spaced apertures 40 are provided in the web, several extending through the recess 34 and several positioned beyond the end shoulders 38 of the recess.

' The llexibly resilient members 14 are preferably elongated foam rubber pieces of contour similar to that of each recess 34 but somewhat longer. As seen fromA FIG- URES v3 and 5, the outer surface of the member 14 is curved, its peripheral edge is beveled and its lower edge 42 is planar. yExtending from the inner face of the resilient'member 14 is an outwardly offset portion 44 which i'scoextensive with and lits into-the recess 34 in each web 20. The inner face of the resilient member 14 also includes spaced protuberances 46, preferably outwardly tapered with rounded or beveled edges.

The handle is assembled by placing each resilient member 14 against the outer surface of each web 20 and pressing them together until the protuberances 46 extend through the apertures 40 and the offset portion 44 seats in the recess 34. Thus the resilient member is retained on the web in such a position that the resilient member extends along substantially the entire length of the web and the end portions 48 of the resilient member, which converge, extend generally along a diagonal line passing through each corner as is evident from FIGURE 1.

The engagement of the protuberances 46 in the apertures 40 prevents relative movement between the resilient members 14 and the shell or blank 12. 'Ihe outer covering 18, such as leather, plastic, cloth and the like, is then cemented to the outer surface of the shell and resilient members 14, the edges of the covering extending around the inner and outer edges 30 and 32 of the shell and being cemented on the inner surface of the shell, as is well known in the art. Then the structure is bent along a horizontal line passing through the medially reduced portions 28 whereupon cooperating U-shaped halves are formed with their inner edges 32 abutting and their outer edges 30 somewhat spaced from each other. The reduced portions 28 thereby form portions 50 which are adapted to pivotally engage handle holders or fixtures (not shown) on the luggage. To retain the halves together an elongated strip 16 is provided which is generally T-shaped in vertical cross-section, the same including opposed longitudinal grooves 52. The strip 16, preferably plastic, is deformable and is bent around the handle and snapped therein so that the cooperating outer edges 30 are engaged and retained in the opposed grooves S2 as shown in FIG- URE 3.

The principles of the invention are also applicable to the handle shown in FIGURE 7 wherein the shell 12 is provided with the resilient members 14, as above described, and the shell and resilient members are provided with a covering material 18 having cooperating peripheral portions 54 that are seamed or sewn around the handle as at 56.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have here been shown and described, it will be understood that minor variations may be made by skilled artisans without departing from the spirit ofthe invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A handle for luggage comprising a` substantially ring-shaped blank folded upon itselfftoA form opposed'cof operating halves each including a pair of lge's joined 4by a web portion, the ends of said legs being adapted'for pivotal connection to luggage handle supports; a pair of flexibly resilient members, means retaining each, resilient member substantially along the length of each web portion on the outer face'thereof, a layer of material secured to and covering said resilient members, web portions and legs, Aand means holding Said cooperatinghalves together, said means retaining said resilient member on said web portion including spaced apertures provided along the length of said web portion rand spaced protuberances on said resilient member extending into said apertures,

2. The combination ofrclaim 1 wherein saidpweb portion includes an indented portion in the major length thereof, said resilient member including an enlarged Aportion extending from one face thereof which is substantially coextensive with said indented portion` and received therein.

3.l In a handle for luggage, a substantially rectangular ring-like shell having webs andleg portions, theflatter including medially reduced portions, said Shelli being folded along a hgzontal axis passing through ,said medially reduced particu ,tojform a substantially u-.shap'ed unit, a flexibly fresilientvmember retained on each, web

Hextex'rding substantially over length thereofv and dispcsedpn,thenuterfacethrect.,andsnasednrotuberanees on said resilient member extending 4into apertures provided in said web.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said medially reduced portions of saidjlegsj include longitudinal ribs.

5. The combiafidniofclin itlierein saidv web in cludes a'ecessalongth major portin oftsQlngtli, said resilient member including an iitwrdt'f'01net-'Macu coextensivepwth and received'in said recess.;`

6. The combination of c lfgiim'` Srjiyltercihsaid resilient member is made of foam rubber.

Refreh??? Cited.. inthe .lelof 51.15.#da?,en?Y

UNITED sTA'rns PATENTS.

521,217 Oswald Jupe 12,( 1894 1,403,167 Kahiow 1 ra10;1922 1,936,113 Jeune Nbvg 21,1933 @274,605 Feu24, 1942 27171065 'S2159 6, 1955 2,732,047 teminste 12111524.' 1956 2,780,330 Lif 1pn Feb, 5, 1957 2,302,552' Burtchaellh V -'...'Avug.' 13, 1957 Y? nui 

